QUETTA: Pakistani officials lodged a protest with Iranian border authorities on Sunday over firing of mortar shells into Pakistani territory reportedly from across the Iranian border.

Several mortar shells fired from the Iranian side landed and exploded in Kachao, a small town along the border in the Chagai district, on Saturday evening. Gunshots were heard soon afterwards, officials said.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Chagai Khuda-i-Nazar Bareach, the mortar shells were fired from across the border. No casualty was reported, he said.

Also read: Iranian forces fire eight mortar shells into Pakistani territory

Mr Bareach said that Assistant Commissioner of Taftan Murad Kasi and senior officials of Frontier Corps held a meeting with the Iranian authorities and informed them about the incident.

He said the Iranians were told that frequent incidents of firing from across the border were causing panic among residents of Chagai and other border areas.

According to Mr Bareach, the Iranian authorities agreed to conduct an investigation into the incident. However, they rejected the notion that Iranian border guards were involved in border violations.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2015